Lonnie G. Bunch III, the first Black person to lead the Smithsonian Institution, will retire as secretary by the end of 2026 after nearly 38 years with the institution.
The Smithsonian announced Bunch’s retirement Tuesday (September 8).
In a statement shared on Facebook, Bunch said he was leaving with “mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude,” calling the Smithsonian “one of the great loves of my life.”
Bunch, 73, became the Smithsonian’s 14th secretary in June 2019 after founding the National Museum of African American History and Culture. He is also the first historian to serve as secretary.
In his role, he has overseen the Smithsonian’s 21 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo and research and education centers.
His departure comes as the Trump administration has escalated its efforts to reshape the Smithsonian. Reuters reported on September 3 that the administration threatened to withdraw federal agencies’ support for the institution, saying agencies could no longer lend artifacts for exhibits, assist with procurement or provide discretionary grants under its current leadership.
The administration also accused the Smithsonian of violating anti-discrimination laws and promoting what it described as an anti-American narrative.
Bunch told The Washington Post that the administration’s pressure did not factor into his decision to retire, saying he had been considering the move for about a year. Still, he has pushed back against efforts to reshape the institution’s historical work.
“America is not afraid of its own history,” Bunch told the Post. “My job is always to help the Smithsonian tell complicated stories that really allow us to understand the fullness of the American experience.”
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